Washington (CNN)- Most Americans are cynical about the effect of money on politics in the U.S., and that cynicism is significantly higher than it was in the 1990s, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Thursday indicates that 86 percent of the public thinks elected officials in the nation's capital are mostly influenced by the pressure they receive from campaign contributors.

Washington (CNN) - In the wake of Osama bin Laden's death, a plurality of Americans believe for the first time that the U.S. is winning the war in Afghanistan, and support for withdrawing U.S. troops from that country has risen significantly over the past month, according to a new national poll.

(CNN) - Pakistan has appeared in the news consistently since the United States captured al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, and a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the Middle East country.

One in four surveyed consider the country an enemy of the U.S., and seven in ten think aid from the U.S. to Pakistan should stop or decrease.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Call it a sign of how unsettled the GOP presidential field remains: Two of the three people at the top of new national poll in the battle for the Republican nomination may not even run for the White House. And a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey also suggests that there is not a lot of enthusiasm about any of the major candidates.

According to the poll, which was released Friday, 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say they would most likely support Rudy Giuliani as their party's nominee. One point behind, at 15 percent is Mitt Romney, with Sarah Palin coming in at 13 percent.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - The high price of gasoline is changing the driving and spending habits of Americans, and the public blames speculators and oil companies for the price spike, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey.

Sixty-three percent of Americans say they have cut back on driving due to the high price of gas. And almost six in ten report spending less on other items due to the rise in prices at the pump, a sign of a spillover effect into the broader economy.

New York (CNNMoney) - More than 80% of Americans surveyed say the economy is in poor shape, with unemployment still the public's top concern, according to the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey.

Not everyone is down in the dumps. Seventeen percent of Americans say the economy is somewhat good. Only 1% say the economy is very good.

Greenville, South Carolina (CNN) - A new national poll indicates the race for the Republican presidential nomination remains wide-open, with none of the probable or potential GOP White House contenders above 20 percent, according to a new national poll.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey's Thursday release comes hours before the first Republican presidential debate of the 2012 election cycle. The debate is being held in South Carolina, which holds the first southern primary on the road to the White House.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama is seeing a boost in his poll numbers on how he's handling terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan, thanks to his Sunday announcement that Osama bin Laden has been killed, according to a new national survey.

But a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Tuesday also indicates no large bump in the president's overall approval rating compared to a poll taken over the weekend, but his rating has been trending upward since mid-April.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Prior to the killing of Osama bin Laden, polls indicate Americans had become increasingly skeptical that the terrorist leader would be captured or killed.

Soon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, 78 percent of the public thought it was likely that the founder and leader of al Qaeda would be captured or killed, with only 21 percent of the public saying it was unlikely that bin Laden would be captured or killed.FULL POST